Take a road trip to Tatooine, or follow Ben and Leslie to the forest moon of Endor.

Death Valley in California

Death Valley in California

Used for: Tatooine in Star Wars

George Lucas famously shot many of the Tatooine scenes in the deserts of Tunisia in North Africa, and fans today are trying to preserve the sites there. But the filmmakers interspersed the Tunisian footage with shots they took in Death Valley, California. The site was relatively close to Hollywood, which meant a short trip for the film crew and actors. And Lucas knew the sand dunes and geology had an otherworldly allure. If you visit, head to the center of the park and visit Mesquite Flat, where Lucas shot many scenes.

Hell's Half Acre in Wyoming

Hell's Half Acre in Wyoming

Used for:Starship Troopers battle scenes

Although a few scenes in Starship Troopers were filmed in the Badlands of South Dakota, the battles on the planet Klendathu took place in Hell's Half Acre in Wyoming. Located just outside Casper, the area has a distinctly alien appearance, thanks to the strange effects of erosion and layered sediment. The poorly named geological landform actually covers an area of about 40 miles. It is technically an escarpment (or scarp)—basically, an exposed rock with cliffs caused by erosion over time.